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How long does it take to get a British Passport for my coming Baby?

28-01-10, 12:47

Hey guys, Does any of you know how long does it take to process a British Passport for a new born? I am not an Indonesian citizen and my husband is British National. We are expecting a new member of the family this coming March. I just wanna know how complicated it is to get a British passport for him since we are planning to travel on June. Any inputs would be very useful! Thanks a lot!

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One more question, is it easy to get a birth certificate registered in Indonesia?

It ain't "easy" but it isn't "difficult", in my opinion. A lot of paperwork needed but it is usually OK. I suggest that long before the birth you drop by the Catatan Sipil of the wilayah where you plan to give birth for them to give you a list of the documents you need since both parents are foreigners.

Got a British passport for our daughter last November. It was a very easy process, you can download the application form online, its easy to follow and they specify the documents required. Best to download the guide for taking a photo as well, as apparently the photo is the main reason applications get rejected.
They take 10 working days to process it, although allow time for delivery at both ends if you are sending it by post. If you want to post it, you can pay the fee at your local Kantor Pos and send the payment slip in with the docs.
We went to the consulate in person to make the application and received the passport by courier the day after it was ready.
You can also do what we did and apply for a British birth certificate at the same time.
If the baby is coming in March, it would be best to check the website or contact them nearer the time, as from the 8th February 2010 passports will no longer be processed in Jakarta but at a regional passport processing centre instead. They say it should still take 10 working days to process at this new centre, but they don't tell you where you will need to send it as yet.

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Theoretically the passport application should take 5 to 10 working days - assuming that they accept that the child's citizenship as British - and there in lies the catch.

With only your husband being British, I am unsure how they will treat his citizenship. You will need to contact the Uk High Commission, give them all the facts and ask them for advice on the matter.

It may just be a case of registering your child's birth and obtaining a UK Birth Cert before you can apply for the passport. Unfortunately I do not know how long this will take.

Now for the real fun! If your husband was born outside the UK, according to the UK Naturalisation laws from 1983, you have to apply to the UK Home Office for UK Citizenship for the child. If your husband was born in the UK, there may be other factors which may cause the UK HIgh Commission to suggest that you apply for citizenship. The problem with is that you have to supply a hugh pile of documents like proof of your marriage, proof of your husband's UK citizenship, your husband's passport, your husband's UK Birth Cert, your husband's parents' marriage certificate, your husband's parent' UK Birth certs (if possible) or other proof that his parents are UK citizens, proof of links to the UK, your child's birth cert with proof that it is your child and I can't remember what else (it has been 5 years since I had to last do this).

Length of time required for application for UK Citizenship: 2 to 12 months.

Prior to Indonesia's new laws for dual citizenship for children in 2006, the average amount of time for these applications made in Jakarta was 3 months. Not sure how long it will take now.

Best to go to the UK Consulate General on the 19th Floor of the Deutsche Bank Building and get all of the details - that is where I went.

But getting the British passport is only half the problem. Because you are both foreigners in Indonesia, because of the Indonesian laws and regulations you actually have to get the passport fairly quickly. Atlantis may know where/what the new laws are in regards to expat children being born in Indonesia.

And because you husband is British, they may completely ignore your citizenship and they will treat your child's citizenship as British.

So it will be good to get all the details about the British birth registration and passport application as soon as possible and get all of the paperwork ready long before the baby is born. Once the baby is born, you most definitely do not have the time (or energy) to go looking for the paperwork.

If you need any further information, please free to PM me and I can help as much as I can.

PB

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Thanks Papua Boy for the info but I already been to the process before and I did it in the Philippines. My daughter got her British and Filipino passport without a problem. Just this Indonesian Immigration and stuffs that I think might be complicated. And yes, we go through the process of preparing all those birth certificates, marriage certificates, wedding photos blah blah...such a tiring complicated stuff heheheh..

Got a British passport for our daughter last November. It was a very easy process, you can download the application form online, its easy to follow and they specify the documents required. Best to download the guide for taking a photo as well, as apparently the photo is the main reason applications get rejected.
They take 10 working days to process it, although allow time for delivery at both ends if you are sending it by post. If you want to post it, you can pay the fee at your local Kantor Pos and send the payment slip in with the docs.
We went to the consulate in person to make the application and received the passport by courier the day after it was ready.
You can also do what we did and apply for a British birth certificate at the same time.
If the baby is coming in March, it would be best to check the website or contact them nearer the time, as from the 8th February 2010 passports will no longer be processed in Jakarta but at a regional passport processing centre instead. They say it should still take 10 working days to process at this new centre, but they don't tell you where you will need to send it as yet.

Good luck

Thanks so much! I will keep everything documented and get ready for that day! Phew! Yes Wish me luck!

Comment

It ain't "easy" but it isn't "difficult", in my opinion. A lot of paperwork needed but it is usually OK. I suggest that long before the birth you drop by the Catatan Sipil of the wilayah where you plan to give birth for them to give you a list of the documents you need since both parents are foreigners.

Loads of thanks! Make everything easy for me!

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No problem, glad I could help.
I am the only British citizen in our marriage (my wife is Indonesian) and it was no problem for them to accept our daughter as a British citizen. As long as your husband has all the correct documents, full British birth certificate (not the shortened copy), etc., and assuming he was born in the UK, it should be ok. It saves time to get the birth certificate and passport done together, but a british birth certificate is not necessary for them to make the passport, if that is all you want done.

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but a british birth certificate is not necessary for them to make the passport, if that is all you want done.

Glad to know that, coz last time in the Philippines we have to register our daughter first before she can get the passport. I checked in British Embassy Indonesia and they just asked for my husband and my birth cetificate and marriage contract.. Wish me luck Phew! I hate dealing with Indonesian Immigration!.